Digger manufacturer JCB has donated £1,000 to help a community group stage a life-saving heart screening programme in memory of a mechanical engineer who died suddenly aged just 26.

Formula One mechanical engineer, Anthony Lane, who grew up in Stubwood, near Denstone, close to the company’s World HQ in Rocester, died from an undiagnosed heart condition after collapsing while exercising at his home in Rugby in October 2022.

Now special free screening days in Anthony’s memory are being organised by Uttoxeter Rotary Club in conjunction with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) at Oldfields Hall Middle School, in Stone Road, Uttoxeter, on 6th and 7th June.

Anthony’s parents Penny and Paul Lane, of Lichfield, have praised the initiative. Paul said:

“Anthony was always such a fit and healthy young man, and his death came as a shock to all of us. We are delighted that Uttoxeter Rotary are arranging screening days in Anthony’s memory that could go on to help hundreds of young people in the area.”

JCB has donated the £1,000 to Uttoxeter Rotary Club to support a campaign delivering two specialist screening days aimed at identifying young people aged 14 to 35 who may be at risk of undiagnosed heart conditions, including heart muscle disorders and electrical faults of the heart. Statistics show that every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy people under the age of 35 die from an undiagnosed heart condition, around 80% of whom show no prior symptoms.

Jerry Gear, Past President of Uttoxeter Rotary Club, who is leading the campaign said:

“These events can literally be life saving for young people as they have the potential to identify those young people who are walking around unaware of underlying health conditions."

"Last year 15 young people were identified as needing further medical investigation. This is why we couldn’t be more grateful to businesses like JCB who continue to show their support each year. The whole process is very simple and takes just 15 minutes but really it is vital. I would encourage young people who haven’t been before to take advantage of the opportunity and book their free place.”

Each screening session relies on £6,800 of funding per day and involves using a medical history questionnaire and electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify risks. Up to 100 young people a day will get free access to the scan with further tests and medical referrals provided if needed.

Uttoxeter Rotary Club is working with local businesses like JCB to raise the funds to cover the costs of the two June screening days. They are looking for a further £6,000 to meet the target for the sessions and then hope to raise additional funds for further dates later in the year.